Process for hydroformylating an olefin

ABSTRACT

A process for hydroformylating olefins with a rhodium catalyst wherein the rhodium catalyst comprises rhodium and at least one diphosphine ligand of formula

This application is a DIV of 10/471,748 Sep. 25, 2003, which is a 371 of PCT/EP 02/02989 Mar. 19, 2002.

The present invention relates to an improved process for preparing diphosphines such as bis(diarylphosphinomethyl)arenes.

Phosphines have many applications in industry. They have industrial importance as antioxidants, metal extractants, flame retardant impregnants, stabilizers for olefins, starting materials for Wittig reagents and, in particular, as ligands for transition metal catalysts.

A review of the important homogeneous catalysts containing phosphine ligands may be found, for example, in B. Cornils, W. A. Herrmann, Applied Homogeneous Catalysis with Organometallic Compounds Vol. 1 & 2, VCH, Weinheim, 1996. Within the group of phosphines, chelating phosphines, in particular diphosphines, are of particular importance as ligands for metal complexes. This is due to the fact that diphosphines form more stable complexes with the appropriate central metal atom and therefore have a more lasting influence on its catalytic properties. Among the known chelating diphosphines, bis(diarylphosphinoalkyl)-1,1′-binaphthyls as constituents of carbonylation catalysts and telomerization catalysts are of industrial interest. EP 0 653 432, EP 0 673 944 and JP 7939059 describe the preparation of bis(diarylphosphinoalkyl)-1,1′-binaphthyls by reaction of 2,2′-dimethylbinaphthyls with a brominating agent to form 2,2′-bis(bromomethyl)-1,1′-binaphthyl, subsequent reaction with an alkyl diphenylphosphinite and subsequent reduction of the bisphosphine oxide formed by means of an organodichlorosilane. This process has a number of fundamental disadvantages: to introduce the phosphorus groups into the target molecules, the latter firstly have to be brominated, and the bromine atoms are then replaced by phosphorus groups. This requires the use of expensive and toxic bromination reagents and results in the formation of superstoichiometric amounts of bromide waste. The bromination of the starting compounds generally leads to product mixtures whose handling is problematical since the arylalkyl bromides formed are lacrymatory substances which are hazardous to health. In addition, the reaction with alkyl diphenylphosphinites leads to the phosphine oxide which has to be reduced in a further step. Starting out from 2,2′-dimethylbinaphthyls, 4 steps are thus necessary to obtain the desired ligands.

Similar syntheses or partial syntheses having the same and sometimes further disadvantages are also described in the literature (M. E. Jung et al., Tetrahedron Lett. 1988, 29, 6199; H. J. Bestmann et al., Chem. Ber. 1974, 2926; T. Hayashi et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1988, 110, 8153).

In EP 0 704 449, unsymmetrically substituted bis(diarylphosphinoalkyl)-1,1′-binaphthyls are prepared from 2,2′-bis(bromomethyl)-1,1′-binaphthyl via corresponding phosphonium salts. This process has the abovementioned disadvantages and is not advantageous for the preparation of symmetrical bis(diarylphosphinoalkyl)-1,1′-binaphthyls since the phosphorus groups have to be introduced into the target molecule in two steps and large amounts of salt waste are formed.

For the above reasons, there is a need to develop a new process for preparing bis(diarylphosphinoalkyl)-1,1′-binaphthyls which does not have the abovementioned disadvantages, can be carried out simply and safely and makes it possible to obtain the desired product in a high yield and purity.

This object is achieved by a process for preparing diphosphines of the formula I R¹R²P—H₂C—Ar—CH₂PR¹R²  (I) which comprises

-   -   a) reacting dimethyl compounds of the formula II,         H₃C—Ar—CH₃  (II)     -    with a base and an N-substituted aminophosphorus halide to form         bis(aminophosphinomethyl) compounds of the formula III         R³R⁴P—H₂C—Ar—CH₂—PR³R⁴,  (III)     -   b) reacting the compounds of the formula III obtained in this         way with HCl to form bis(dichlorophosphinomethyl) compounds of         the formula IV         Cl₂P—H₂C—Ar—CH₂—PCl₂  (IV)     -   and c) reacting the compounds of the formula IV obtained in this         way with organometallic reagents to give the target compounds of         the formula I, where R¹ and R² are each, independently of one         another, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic, heteroaromatic         or aliphatic hydrocarbon radical and may have a covalent bond         connecting them and Ar is a substituted or unsubstituted         aromatic or heteroaromatic hydrocarbon radical and R³ and R⁴ are         each, independently of one another, an N-substituted alkylamino         or arylamino radical.

The process of the invention is of particular interest since the routes described in the past for obtaining the ligands of the formula I were always via benzyl halide intermediates. The process of the invention enables diphosphines to be obtained in good yields and high purities directly from the compounds of the formula II.

Bases which can be used for the reaction of compounds of the formula II in process step a) are any bases which can deprotonate benzylic CH₃ groups. Typical examples of such bases are alkyllithium and aryllithium compounds such as butyllithium and methyllithium, alkali metal hydrides or alkaline earth metal hydrides such as sodium hydride and potassium hydride, alkali metals or alkaline earth metals such as sodium or potassium in liquid ammonia, and also alkali metal or alkaline earth metal hydroxides or alkali metal or alkaline earth metal alkoxides, for example potassium tert-butoxide.

The process of the invention for preparing diphosphines can be illustrated by way of example by the following reaction scheme for the synthesis of 2,2′-bis(diarylphosphinomethyl)-1,1′-binaphthyls:

As N-substituted aminophosphorus halides in process step a), it is possible to use alkylaminophosphorus or arylaminophosphorus chlorides, bromides or iodides, where alkyl is a hydrocarbon radical selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, hexyl, 2-ethylhexyl, octyl, isooctyl, nonyl or isononyl radicals and/or these radicals can have a covalent bond between them and/or alkylamino is an aliphatic heterocyclic radical having from one to 6 carbon atoms and/or aryl is an aromatic radical having from one to 14 carbon atoms, where these radicals may bear up to seven substituents selected from the group consisting of (C₁-C₈)-alkyl, O-alkyl-(C₁-C₈), O-phenyl, phenyl, fluorine, chlorine, CN, COOH, CHO, SO₃H, SO₂-alkyl-(C₁-C₆), SO-alkyl-(C₁-C₆), CF₃, COO-alkyl-(C₁-C₈), COO-phenyl, PO-phenyl₂, PO-alkyl₂(C₁-C₄), PO₃H₂, PO(O-alkyl-(C₁-C₆))₂, SO₃-alkyl-(C₁-C₄).

An alkylamino radical can be an aliphatic heterocyclic radical such as piperidine or pyrrole and/or an aryl radical can be an aromatic radical such as phenyl, naphthyl or benzyl. Preference is given to using bis(dialkylamino)phosphorous chlorides. For all compounds, the N—P bond has to be able to be cleaved by means of acid.

More Detailed Description of the Formula I

The radicals R¹ and R² can be identical or different and can be aromatics having up to 14 carbon atoms and be able to bear up to eight substituents selected from the group consisting of (C₁-C₈)-alkyl, O-alkyl-(C₁-C₈), O-phenyl, phenyl, fluorine, chlorine, CN, COOH, CHO, SO₃H, SO₂-alkyl-(C₁-C₆), SO-alkyl-(C₁-C₆), CF₃, COO-alkyl-(C₁-C₈), COO-phenyl, PO-phenyl₂, PO-alkyl₂-(C₁-C₄), PO₃H₂, PO—(O-alkyl-(C₁-C₆))₂, SO₃-alkyl-(C₁-C₄).

Furthermore, the radicals R¹ and R² can be identical or different and be heteroaromatics having a five-, six- or seven-membered ring and nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur atoms in the ring, where further aromatic, heteroaromatic and/or aliphatic rings may be fused onto the ring and the rings may bear up to seven substituents selected from the group consisting of (C₁-C₈)-alkyl, O-alkyl-(C₁-C₈), O-phenyl, phenyl, fluorine, chlorine, CN, COOH, CHO, SO₃H, SO₃-alkyl-(C₁-C₆), SO-alkyl-(C₁-C₆), CF₃, COO-alkyl-(C₁-C₈), COO-phenyl, PO-phenyl₂, PO-alkyl₂-(C₁-C₄), PO₃H₂, PO—(O-alkyl-(C₁-C₆))₂, SO₃-alkyl-(C₁-C₄).

In addition, the hydrocarbon radicals R¹ and R² can be identical or different and be cyclic or acyclic alkyl radicals which contain up to 10 carbon atoms and may bear up to seven substituents selected from the group consisting of (C₁-C₈)-alkyl, O-alkyl-(C₁-C₈), O-phenyl, phenyl, fluorine, chlorine, CN, COOH, CHO, SO₃H, SO₂-alkyl-(C₁-C₆), SO-alkyl-(C₁-C₆), CF₃, COO-alkyl-(C₁-C₈), COO-phenyl, PO-phenyl₂, PO-alkyl₂-(C₁-C₄), PO₃H₂, PO—(O-alkyl-(C₁-C₆))₂, SO₃-alkyl-(C₁-C₄).

In these cases, the radicals R¹ and R² can also be joined by one or more covalent bonds and thus form, for example, a biphenyl, naphthyl or other cyclic system.

Ar can be a phenyl, naphthyl, anthracenyl or phenanthrenyl radical, a 1,1′-biphenyl unit or a 1,1′-binaphthyl unit, which may each bear up to eight further substituents selected from the group consisting of (C₁-C₈)-alkyl, O-alkyl-(C₁-C₈), O-phenyl, phenyl, fluorine, chlorine, CN, COOH, CHO, SO₃H, SO₂-alkyl-(C₁-C₆), SO-alkyl-(C₁-C₆), CF₃, COO-alkyl-(C₁-C₈), COO-phenyl, PO-phenyl₂, PO-alkyl₂-(C₁-C₄), PO₃H₂, PO—(O-alkyl-(C₁-C₆))₂, SO₃-alkyl-(C₁-C₄) or one or more fused-on benzene rings.

As an alternative, Ar can be a heteroaromatic comprising a five-, six- or seven-membered ring having nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur atoms in the ring, where further aromatic, heteroaromatic and/or aliphatic rings may be fused onto the ring and the rings may bear up to six substituents selected from the group consisting of (C₁-C₈)-alkyl, O-alkyl-(C₁-C₈), O-phenyl, phenyl, fluorine, chlorine, CN, COOH, CHO, SO₃H, SO₂-alkyl-(C₁-C₆), SO-alkyl-(C₁-C₆), CF₃, COO-alkyl-(C₁-C₈), COO-phenyl, PO-phenyl₂, PO-alkyl₂-(C₁-C₄), PO₃H₂, PO—(O-alkyl-(C₁-C₆))₂, SO₃-alkyl-(C₁-C₄).

Organometallic reagents used for converting compounds of the formula IV into the target compounds of the formula I in process step c) are transition metal arenes or aliphatic or aromatic alkali metal or alkaline earth metal compounds. Preference is given to using aliphatic or aromatic Grignard reagents, alkylzinc or arylzinc reagents, alkyllithium or aryllithium reagents and/or arylcopper compounds. The organometallic reagents are generally prepared separately prior to the reaction, but they can also be prepared in situ in the reaction.

Solvents used in the individual process steps a), b) and c) of the process of the invention are inert organic solvents. Without making any claim as to completeness, examples which may be mentioned are polar aprotic solvents, aliphatic ethers, aromatic or aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic and aliphatic halogenated hydrocarbons, alcohols, esters, amides and mixtures thereof. Naturally, the solvents must not undergo any chemical reactions with the reactants.

The process steps a), b) and c) are preferably carried out at temperatures of from −80 to 200° C.; in most cases, it has been found to be useful to employ temperatures of from −30 to 180° C., particularly preferably from −20 to 160° C.

The particular advantage of the process of the invention is that no toxic benzyl and alkyl bromides are prepared and that no reduction of phosphine oxides has to be carried out.

Owing to the stability of the intermediates of the formulae III and IV, it is possible to purify these intermediates by simple crystallization so that complicated purification methods such as chromatography are not necessary. The compounds of the intermediate IV has made it possible for many new ligands which are of interest in catalysis to be obtained in a simple manner. For producing a ligand library of the ligands prepared according to the invention, the process of the invention is considerably more convenient than previously known processes.

The diphosphines prepared according to the invention can be used as ligands in metal-catalyzed reactions, in particular hydroformylations of olefins in the presence of rhodium catalysts. Preferred olefins are octenes and butenes, in particular those having high degrees of branching and/or internal double bonds.

The use of diphosphines as ligands in hydroformylation reactions is known. Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 4,694,109 describes diphosphine ligands having a BISBI structure which are used, inter alia, in the hydroformylation of olefins having internal double bonds without discussing the selectivity to the product and the activity of the catalyst.

In Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 1999, 38, 336-338, L. A. van der Veen, P. C. J. Kamer and P. W. N. M. van Leeuwen report modified XANTPHOS ligands which convert 2-octene into n-nonanal at an n/i ratio of 9:1 and a turnover frequency (=TOF) of 112 h⁻¹. The TOF is defined as the ratio of mole of aldehyde to mole of rhodium per h after a 20-30% conversion.

EP 0 653 432 describes the preparation of diphosphines analogous to NAPHOS, some of which contain fluorine-containing substituents. These ligands can be used in the hydroformylation of olefins. Here too, nothing is said about the selectivity and activity of the catalyst.

The ligands prepared according to the invention, in particular the fluorine-containing ligands analogous to NAPHOS, in metal complexes are surprisingly highly selective and active catalysts which display the highest activity known hitherto in the selective hydroformylation of olefins having internal double bonds to form the terminal aldehydes. Table 1 in the examples gives an overview.

The invention likewise provides a process for the hydroformylation of olefins having from 3 to 16 carbon atoms in the presence of rhodium catalysts, wherein the ligands used for the rhodium are diphosphines of the formula

where

-   -   R=3,5-C₆H₃F₂; —C₆F₅; 2,4,5-C₆H₂F₃, 3,5-C₆H₃(CF₃)₂,         3,5-C₆H₃(CH₃)₂ or 3,4,5-C₆H₂F₃,         and the n/i selectivity of the aldehydes obtained is above         85:15, preferably above 97:3.

Furthermore, turnover frequencies (TOFs), i.e. activities, of more than 150, preferably more than 300, can be achieved in the process of the present invention using the specified ligands.

The hydroformylation can be carried out in a customary manner, for example as described in J. Falbe et al “New Syntheses with Carbon Monoxide”, Springer Verlag 1980, pages 93-123.

As olefins, preference is given to using those having internal double bonds, e.g. 2-butene, raffinate I or raffinate II, pentene and/or octene, in each case in isomerically pure form or as a mixture of isomers.

Raffinate I and raffinate II are C₄ mixtures obtained by cracking and comprise mixtures of butanes, butenes and butadienes.

EXAMPLES

The following examples illustrate the process of the invention without restricting the process to them.

1. General Procedure for Preparing the Diphosphines:

Solvents: All solvents used are dried by known methods and distilled and stored under argon.

a) Preparation of 2,2′-bis[bis(diethylamino)phosphinomethyl]-1,1′-binaphthyl

The major part of the solvent is removed from 33.2 ml of n-BuLi solution (1.6 M in hexane, 53 mmol) under reduced pressure with gentle warming. After cooling in an ice bath, 25 ml of ether and 7.9 ml of tetramethylethylenediamine (53 mmol) are added. A solution of 5 g of 2,2′-dimethyl-1,1′-binaphthyl (17.7 mmol) in 30 ml of ether is slowly added dropwise while stirring and cooling. The reaction mixture is allowed to stand for 24 hours at room temperature and subsequently for a few hours at 0° C. The supernatant solution is decanted off and the precipitate obtained is washed twice with 25 ml each time of hexane.

The deep red precipitate is admixed with 50 ml of n-hexane and cooled to −70° C. A mixture of 7.5 ml of chlorobis(diethylamino)phosphine (35.4 mmol) and 25 ml of absolute n-hexane is added dropwise to the stirred suspension. After the mixture has been allowed to warm slowly to room temperature, it is stirred for another 12 hours. The solution is filtered and the precipitate is extracted twice with 50 ml of toluene. The combined filtrates are freed of solvents and of excess chlorobis(diethyl-amino)phosphine under reduced pressure (10⁻³ torr) with warming to 80° C. The residue comprises the target product in good purity and can be used without further purification for the further reactions, e.g. to form 2,2′-bis[(dichlorophosphino)methyl]-1,1′-binaphthyl.

M=514.59 g/mol.

³¹P-NMR (δ[ppm], C₆D₆): 88.4

¹H-NMR (δ[ppm], J[Hz], C₆D₆): 0.45 t(=triplet), J=7 (6H); 0.55 t, J=7 (6H); 2.5 q (=quartet), J=7 (4H); 2.6 q, J=7 (4H); 2.85 d (=doublet), J=3 (4H); 6.7-7.0 m (=multiplet) (6H); 7.6 d, J=8 (2H); 7.7-7.8 m (4H).

b) Preparation of 2,2′-bis[(dichlorophosphino)methyl]-1,1′-binaphthyl

The 2,2′-bis[bis(diethylamino)phosphinomethyl]-1,1′-binaphthyl present in the residue from the reaction described under 1a) (see above) is taken up in 150 ml of hexane. While stirring and cooling in an ice bath, gaseous HCl is passed in until the mixture is saturated (about 1 h). The mixture is filtered and the residue is washed twice with 25 ml of hexane. The combined filtrates are evaporated to about 50 ml. At −30° C., 2.9 g of 2,2′-bis[(dichlorophosphino)methyl]-1,1′-binaphthyl crystallize out.

M=484.12 g/mol

Yield: 2.9 g (44% yield based on the 2,2′-dimethyl-1,1′-binaphthyl used in 1a))

³¹P-NMR (δ[ppm], J[Hz], CDCl₃): 180.00

¹H-NMR (δ[ppm], J[Hz], CDCl₃): 3.4-3.6 m (4H); 7.0 d, J=8.5 (2H); 7.2 m (2H); 7.43 m (2H); 7.6 d, J=8.5 (2H); 7.86 d, J=8.3 (2H); 7.94 d, J=8.5 (2H)

¹³C-NMR (δ[ppm], J[Hz], CDCl₃): 0.3 d, ¹J_(PC)=45.8 (P—CH₂); 126.4 d, J=5.7; 126.5 d, J=6.7; 126.9 s; 128.1 s; 128.4 d, J=2.9; 129.0 s; 129.6 d, J=5; 133.0 d, J=16.2; 135.0 d, J=2; 135.6 s.

c) General Procedure for the Synthesis of Ligands of the Formula (I):

302 mg (12.4 mmol) of elemental magnesium are mixed with 10 ml of absolute diethyl ether under argon in a 100 ml three-necked flask provided with a magnetic stirrer. At room temperature, 12.4 mmol of the appropriately substituted bromine compound (dissolved in 10 ml of diethyl ether) are slowly (over a period of about one hour) added dropwise by means of a dropping funnel to this mixture. If the Grignard reaction does not start, a drop of 1,2-dibromoethane is added to the reaction solution. When the Grignard reaction is complete (complete reaction of the magnesium) after about 1 hour, this solution is transferred to a dropping funnel.

1.5 g (3.1 mmol) of 2,2′-bis[(dichlorophosphino)methyl]-1,1′-binaphthyl are dissolved in 25 ml of absolute THF under argon in a 150 ml three-necked flask.

At room temperature, the Grignard solution is slowly (over a period of half an hour) added dropwise to the solution of the 2,2′-bis[(dichloro-phosphino)methyl]-1,1′-binaphthyl.

The solution is subsequently heated to boiling and stirred for another two hours to complete the reaction. The solution is subsequently evaporated to dryness under argon on a rotary evaporator. The residue is dissolved in 50 ml of absolute and/or degassed toluene and admixed with 20 ml of degassed water. The mixture is stirred for half an hour. The aqueous phase is separated off and the organic phase is dried over sodium sulfate.

The sodium sulfate is subsequently filtered off, washed with 25 ml of toluene and the organic phase is evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure. The residue is recrystallized from acetone/EtOH, acetone/MeOH or toluene/hexane, or purified under argon by column chromatography on a 40 cm column (kieselguhr G 60) using absolute toluene as eluant.

The following ligands were prepared by the process of the invention.

2.) Examples of Ligands Prepared According to 1c):

a) 2,2′-Bis[bis(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl)phosphinomethyl]-1,1′-binaphthyl

M=1010.54 g/mol

Yield: 2.3 g (73.4% of theory)

³¹P-NMR (δ[ppm], J[Hz], CDCl₃): −46.3 qui (=quintet), ³J_(PF)=11

¹H-NMR (δ[ppm], J[Hz], CDCl₃): 3.6 d, J=13.8 (2H); 4.1 d, J=13.8 (2H); 6.3 d, J=8.4 (2H); 6.85 t, J=17; 7.25 t, J=10.8 (2H); 7.65 d, J=8.6 (2H); 7.7 d, J=8.1 (2H); 7.94 d, J=8.6 (2H). b) 2,2′-Bis[bis(3,5-difluorophenyl)phosphinomethyl]-1,1′-binaphthyl

M=794.66 g/mol

Yield: 2.05 g (83.2% of theory)

³¹P-NMR (δ[ppm], J[Hz], CDCl₃): −8.99

¹H-NMR (δ[ppm], J[Hz], CDCl₃): 3.05-3.1 m, (4H); 6.3 tt (=triplet of triplets), J=6, J=2.2 (4H); 6.53 tt, J=8.9, J=2.2 (2H); 6.65 m, (6H); 6.88 d, J=8.5 (2H); 7.1 tt, J=7, J=1 (2H); 7.2 d, J=8.5 (2H); 7.31 t, J=7.1 (2H); 7.78 t, J=8.5 (4H). c) 2,2′-Bis[bis(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)phosphinomethyl]-1,1′-binaphthyl

M=866.62 g/mol

Yield: 1.3 g (48.4% of theory)

³¹P-NMR (δ[ppm], J[Hz], CDCl₃): −28.8 d, J=23.6; −29.1 d, J=25.0

¹H-NMR (δ[ppm], J[Hz], CDCl₃): 3.26 d, J_(HH)=14.1 (2H); 3.45 dd, J_(HH)=14, ²J_(PH)=3.2 (2H); 6.33 m (2H); 6.55 d; 8.7 m (2H); 6.6-6.8 m (6H); 6.92 td (=triplet of doublets), J=6.9, J=1.2 (2H); 7.26 t, J=7.4 (2H); 7.43 dd, J=8.5, J=2.2 (2H); 7.7 d (J=8.1 (2H); 7.76 d, J=7.7 (2H). d) 2,2′-Bis[bis(3,5-dimethylphenyl)phosphinomethyl]-1,1′-binaphthyl

M=762.95 g/mol

Yield: 1.9 g (80% of theory)

³¹P-NMR (δ[ppm], J[Hz], CDCl₃): −11.4

¹H-NMR (δ[ppm], J[Hz], CDCl₃): 2.1 s, 2.2 s, 2.3 s (24H); 3.1 dd, J_(HH)=14.2, J=2.5 (2H); 3.3 dd, J_(HH)=14.2, ²J_(PH)=2.2 (2H); 6.6 d, J=7.5 (4H); 6.9 m (6H), 7.1-7.2 m (6H); 7.35 dd, J=8.5, J=2 (2H); 7.4 t, J 7 (2H); 7.8 d, J=8.5 (2H); 7.85 d, J=7.9 2H). e) 2,2′-Bis[bis(3,4,5-trifluorophenyl)phosphinomethyl]-1,1′-binaphthyl

M=866.62 g/mol

Yield: 2.3 g (85% of theory)

³¹P-NMR (δ[ppm], J[Hz], CDCl₃): −8.5

¹H-NMR (δ[ppm], J[Hz], CDCl₃): 3.1 m, (2H); 3.05 dd, J_(HH)=13.8, ²J_(PH)=2.7 (2H); 6.3 q, J=6.7 (4H); 6.7 m (6H); 7.05 td, J=6.7, J=1.3 (2H); 7.3 m (4H); 7.8 t, J=8.9 (4H). f) 2,2′-Bis{bis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]phosphinomethyl}-1,1′-binaphthyl

M=1126.72 g/mol

Yield: 3.1 g (88.7% of theory)

³¹P-NMR (δ[ppm], J[Hz], CDCl₃): −10.5

¹H-NMR (δ[ppm], J[Hz], CDCl₃): 3.2 m, (4H); 6.95 d, J=8.5 (2H); 7.05-7.15 m, (4H); 7.25 d, J=4.7 (4H); 7.33 t, J=7.3 (2H); 7.47 d, J=4.5 (4H); 7.65 s, (2H); 7.7 d, J=11.1 (2H); 7.8 d, J=16.5 (4H).

3. Description of the Hydroformylation

The hydroformylation experiments were carried out either in a 100 ml autoclave (Parr Co.) provided with a magnetically driven propeller stirrer or in a 160 ml autoclave (Parr Co.) provided with a magnetic stirrer.

The hydroformylation procedure is described below by way of example for the autoclave experiment No. 1 (see table 1):

isooctane (2 ml as internal standard) and 1-pentene (8 ml, 73.0 mmol) are added to a solution of 1.88 mg of Rh(CO)₂acac (7.3 μmol) and 44 mg of ligand 2.f) (M: 1127, 36.5 μmol) in anisole (30 ml). After the mixture has been transferred to the autoclave, the autoclave is brought to 5 bar by means of synthesis gas (CO:H₂=1:1). The autoclave is then firstly heated to 120° C. to allow the pressure to increase slowly and the pressure is subsequently adjusted to 10 bar. After 16 hours, the autoclave is switched off automatically, cooled in an ice bath and depressurized to atmospheric pressure. A GC sample is taken directly from the autoclave and measured.

TABLE 1 Rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation in the presence of the ligands prepared according to the invention No. Ligand Olefin T (° C.) Yield (%) n/i TOF 1 2f 1-pentene 120 82 96:4 512 2 2f 2-pentene 120 68 91:9 425 3 2f 2-pentene 100 52  89:11 325 4 2f 2-butene 120 66 91:9 825 5 2f 2-octene 120 51  86:14 319 6 2b 1-pentene 120 78 97:3 488 7 2b 2-pentene 120 59 94:6 369 8 2b 2-pentene 100 21 95:5 131 9 2e 1-pentene 120 83 97:3 519 10 2e 2-pentene 120 61 93:7 381 11 2e 2-pentene 100 24 94:6 150 12 2e 2-butene 120 74 95:5 925 13 2e 2-octene 120 48 91:9 300 14 2e 4-octene 120 14  66:34 88 15 2d 1-pentene 120 76  81:19 475 16 2d 2-pentene 120 11 78:22 69

A catalyst formed using NAPHOS, namely the parent molecule without fluorine-containing substituents, likewise displays high selectivities but give low activities, as can be seen from the TOF values in the following table.

TABLE 2 Hydroformylation of 1- and 2-pentene using NAPHOS No. Olefin P (bar) T (° C.) Yield (%) n/i TOF 1 1-pentene 10 120 76 99:1  475 2 1-pentene 50 120 88 97:3  550 3 2-pentene 10 120 22 89:11 138 4 2-pentene 50 120 7 55:45 44 

1. A process for hydroformylating an olefin having from 3 to 16 carbon atoms, in the presence of a rhodium catalyst, wherein the rhodium catalyst comprises rhodium and at least one diphosphine ligand of formula

where R=3,5-C₆H₃F₂ ; —C ₆F₅; 2,4,5-C₆H₂F₃, 3,5-C₆H₃(CF₃)₂; 3,5-C₆H₃(CH₃)₂ or 3,4,5-C₆H₂F₃, and the n/i selectivity of the aldehydes obtained by said hydroformylating is above 85:15.
 2. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the olefin is at least one olefin selected from the group consisting of butene, raffinate I, raffinate II, pentene and octene and the are/is used as olefin is, in each case, in isomerically pure form or as a mixture of isomers.
 3. The process for hydroformylating an olefin as claimed in claim 1, wherein the n/i selectivity of the aldehydes obtained by said hydroformylating is above 90:10.
 4. The process as claimed in claim 1, where the olefin is at least one olefin selected from the group consisting of butene, pentene and octene and the olefin is, in each case, in isomerically pure form or as a mixture of isomers. 